The Impact of Defaults on Quran Interpretation: Case study of “al” meaning in “Alyawn” from (Q: 5/3)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master student of Ayatollah Mojtahedi Tehrani, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor and Member of the Quranic Interpretation and Sciences Department, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qum, Iran,

10.22034/hb.2025.1087.1173

Abstract

A central issue in Quranic exegesis is the role of the interpreter’s prior knowledge in shaping their understanding of the text. While such influence is often inevitable—and sometimes necessary—it can lead to divergent interpretations rooted in the interpreter’s presuppositions. This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to examine how prior knowledge impacts Quranic interpretation, focusing on Ibn Hishām al-Anṣārī’s (d. 739 AH) analysis of the definite article "al-" in the word "al-yawm" (the day) in the "Verse of Perfection" (al-Māʾidah 5:3). By synthesizing exegetical, literary, syntactic, and semantic evidence, the research investigates whether Ibn Hishām’s classification of "al-" as a "zāʾidah lāzimah" (redundant but grammatically required) was influenced by his theological alignment with the Ahl al-Ḥadīth school. Findings reveal that this interpretation disrupts the verse’s internal coherence, exposing a methodological flaw in his analysis. The study underscores the necessity of critically evaluating how exegetes’ prior knowledge—whether theological, grammatical, or otherwise—shapes their interpretive choices, thereby offering a framework for engaging with classical tafsīr more discerningly.
nterpretation of the Holy Quran and how different interpretations are formed based on the mental assumptions of interpreters. Using a descriptive-analytical method and reviewing library resources, this research particularly investigates the view of Ibn Hisham Ansari (d. 739 AH) regarding the type of "al" in the word "al-yawm" in the verse of perfection (Al-Ma'idah/3). The main issue of this study is whether Ibn Hisham's choice of "al" in "al-yawm" was influenced by his prior knowledge or not. By examining interpretive sources and literary discussions, as well as syntactic and semantic analysis of the verse, it became clear that he chose the meaning of "zaidah lazimah" for "al" in the word "al-yawm" from the verse of perfection, influenced by the theological views of the Ahl al-Hadith. This choice damages the internal coherence of the verse and its phrases. It also became evident that to utilize the interpretive insights of interpreters, it is necessary to examine how they are influenced by their prior knowledge.

Keywords

Hekmat-e-Balegheh
Volume 4, Issue 7 - Serial Number 7
April 2024
Pages 165-147

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 26 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 28 July 2025
  • First Publish Date: 28 July 2025

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